Enugu monarch Igwe Madu faces N2bn suit over alleged unlawful detention

A N2 billion lawsuit has been instituted against Igwe Godwin Ndubueze Madu of Enugu Achi Umumba Autonomous Community, Oji River Local Government Area, over the alleged malicious prosecution and unlawful detention of one Cyril Ugochukwu Ezedozie.

The claimant, Cyril Ugochukwu Ezedozie, in the suit accused the monarch of using his influence to get him jailed for 13 days over charges later dismissed by the High Court for lack of evidence.

In a suit filed at the Enugu State High Court by Tagbo Ike, SAN, Ezedozie alleged that on June 5, 2025, Igwe Madu caused a four-count charge to be filed against him.

The charges were conspiracy to commit felony, cyberstalking and defamation.

According to him, he was “embarrassed, humiliated, handcuffed and thrown into a filthy and poorly ventilated cell under sub-human conditions” at the Enugu Correctional Centre.

He said the case file was later sent to the Office of the Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for review, which found no evidence to sustain the cyberstalking charge, after which the High Court struck out the criminal charges.

Ezedozie said the ordeal caused him psychological trauma, financial loss and injury to his reputation.

He is asking the High Court to order the monarch to pay him N2 billion as exemplary and general damages, in addition to publishing a full-page apology in a national daily.

The suit, dated August 24, 2026, is, however, yet to be assigned a date for mention and hearing.